SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ CA
Forgetting things can be stressful and lead to a challenging day. You may have sticky notes placed everywhere, but sometimes you still forget essential things like an item on your grocery list, an important meeting, or a doctor’s appointment. When remembering things becomes challenging, it is often chalked up to old age or leading a busy or stressful life. However, your forgetfulness could be the result of sleep loss. Find out from your sleep apnea dentists in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry how treating sleep apnea could improve your memory and overall brain function.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where your airway is partially or entirely blocked while sleeping, preventing airflow to your lungs, and depriving your body of oxygen. Those who suffer from sleep apnea may snore loudly or gasp for air. The blockage causes your brain to alert your body to wake up and breathe, resulting in a loss of sleep as the episodes can happen dozens of times an hour. Therefore, airway centric dentists in Scotts Valley warn that your brain is not getting the oxygen or rest it needs while working overtime. The strain shows up as moody behavior, constant fatigue, headaches, or forgetfulness.
What does sleep loss have to do with my memory?
Four things your body requires to remain balanced are food, water, air, and sleep. You may not blink an eye at food and water when it comes to deprivation. However, when you suffer from sleep apnea, air and sleep are deprived every time you sleep.
The constant interruption from sleep apnea disturbs your brain as it wakes up during the R.E.M. sleep stage. The R.E.M. cycle is when your mind rests and rejuvenates. Although you may think you get enough sleep each night, when you suffer from sleep apnea, you lose sleep. Our sleep apnea dentists in Santa Cruz near you warn that without treatment, sleep apnea could lead to cognitive decline, fatigue, headaches, memory loss, and lack of interest in once-loved activities. Sleep apnea may also increase your risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
Even though it can be challenging to know if you have sleep apnea on your own, loud snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea. However, it is not the only symptom that accompanies this sleep breathing disorder. The professional Scotts Valley sleep apnea dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry can help you determine if you have sleep apnea through an airway assessment. You may also benefit from a sleep study.
The following categories are examples of symptoms you may suffer from when you have sleep apnea
- You require constant reminders to do things. When people around you consistently tell you about upcoming doctor appointments or other things, then you may suffer from forgetfulness caused by untreated sleep apnea.
- You miss work or school deadlines. Work or school missed deadlines could mean you are struggling to focus, which could be a cause of losing sleep due to sleep apnea. Missing deadlines could pose serious ramifications at work or school.
- You forget where you put things. Misplacing your keys, shoes, wallet, phone, etc. can indicate difficulty with your memory possibly caused by untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California
Even though misplacing an item or forgetting something at the store may seem reasonable and passed off for high-stress levels or old age. However, when you notice your forgetfulness interfering with your daily activities, it is time to find out if you suffer from sleep apnea before someone is seriously injured. If you suffer from forgetfulness or have more questions about sleep apnea, feel free to contact the sleep apnea specialists near you at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry by calling (831) 438-4411 or request an appointment online. We love to serve patients in the Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley communities in California!
